Win Some, Lose Some (Debt Free At Last!)

Purplebonnie

I started a diary back in 2017 when I was nearly £50,000 in debt, but didn’t keep it up.  I have been beavering away at getting the debt down and now I have just £11,955.71 to go.  I want this gone by the end of 2022 as I want the freedom of choice to drop down to either part time hours or to go self employed.  I have a well paid, but stressful job and I’m getting too old for that, I want a quieter life!  I want to be able to travel in our campervan, I want to help look after my elderly parents, I want to spend more time with my grandchildren ...... so many wants but no time at present.  Getting rid of the debt would be the win.  One thing I have not been so successful at is losing the weight.  I’m about 4 stone overweight and need to lose that so that I am healthier and have more energy for all those wants.  I am already vegan, but I am going to follow The Starch Solution, as after some extensive research it seems the most suitable diet for me.  So I am starting another diary to keep me in check both on the spending and dieting, hence the Win Some, Lose Some title.

Amber1980

Good luck,you have done brilliantly with the debt reduction so far and you have really good goals to aim towards too! Losing weight is so difficult isn’t it…..😩

LegoHead

I have been trying to lose weight. There are loads of diets and I think the only thing that is consistently working for me is counting the calories. Keeping track of what I was eating with a tracking app made me realise there are way more calories in the food I eat than I thought. 

doingitanyway

You have done brilliantly with your debt. I have been debt free a few years. Originally I wanted to be debt free so I could go self employed. I have done that. Other problems now and staying debt free isn't easy but it does give you more options. 

Wishing you success as you run towards the finish line 

shell16

Good luck to you, You have done brilliantly! I have a motorhome so appreciate your desire to set off when you want and Travel!

 

Purplebonnie

Amber1980 said:

Good luck,you have done brilliantly with the debt reduction so far and you have really good goals to aim towards too! Losing weight is so difficult isn’t it…..😩

Hello and thank you.  It is difficult, I just love food!

Purplebonnie

LegoHead said:

I have been trying to lose weight. There are loads of diets and I think the only thing that is consistently working for me is counting the calories. Keeping track of what I was eating with a tracking app made me realise there are way more calories in the food I eat than I thought. 

Hello!  I have tried that and manage a few days counting and then give up ☹️

Purplebonnie

doingitanyway said:

You have done brilliantly with your debt. I have been debt free a few years. Originally I wanted to be debt free so I could go self employed. I have done that. Other problems now and staying debt free isn't easy but it does give you more options. 

Wishing you success as you run towards the finish line 

Hello and thank you.  Self employment income can be more unpredictable can’t it?

Purplebonnie

shell16 said:

Good luck to you, You have done brilliantly! I have a motorhome so appreciate your desire to set off when you want and Travel!

 

Hello and thank you.  The freedom of having a home on wheels is great isn’t it!

Purplebonnie

Today has been a very good day.  Firstly, it was a NSD which is always a good start, especially as I am currently on leave.  I found a bag of new potatoes hidden in the pantry which have sprouted beautifully.  I am going to plant these in tubs at the allotment as my first earlies.  That has probably saved me an initial £5 and even more later down the line.  The monthly electric bill came in.  Our unit price hasn’t gone up yet and the turning off lights, using the wood burner for heating etc has paid off and it was £50 cheaper than I had budgeted for.  Luckily for us we don’t pay a standing charge with our electric, only for what we use.

I stuck to the diet with a sweet potato hash for breakfast, a chickpea salad & Ryvita for lunch and spinach Dahl & rice for dinner, with fruit in between.  I have also taken the puppy for two walks today, much to his delight (my husband took him out first thing this morning, I waited until it warmed up)

Since the beginning of the year I have been building up my much depleted emergency fund.  I try to keep £1000 in it.  I also started the weekly savings challenge in January and that pot is building up nicely.  My debt is spread across two credit cards which are both on 0% interest until next year and I WILL have them both paid off before that runs out.

 I hope everyone has had a good day too?

Aspiration

Fantastic debt progress, Exciting plans for the years ahead once you get it all cleared!!